wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Biographical information on members of Heidelberg Catechism committee released

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This story available online:

www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09110<http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09110

Biographical information on members of Heidelberg Catechism
committee released

15-member group will work to correct translation problems

>by Bethany Furkin and Jerry L. Van Marter
>Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE ― The Office of the General Assembly has
released biographical information on the 15 Presbyterians
appointed last week to The Special Committee on Correcting
Translation Problems of the Heidelberg Catechism.

The special committee is mandated by The Book of Order
after last summer's 218th General Assembly (2008) proposed
changes to the catechism. G-18.0200 calls for a special
committee of no less than 15 individuals to be formed when
a General Assembly proposes any changes to in The Book of
Confessions, part of the PC(USA) Constitution.

The special committee, appointed by Moderator Bruce
Reyes-Chow will consider the proposed changes to the
catechism ― which revolve around "translation problems in
five responses of the Heidelberg and to add the original
Scripture texts of the German Heidelberg Catechism" ― and
will consult with Newark Presbytery, which sent the
overture to the Assembly calling for the proposed changes.

The special committee is scheduled to report back to the
219th General Assembly (2010). Any changes to the
Heidelberg Catechism proposed by that Assembly will then go
to the 173 presbyteries for their affirmative or negative
vote. A two-thirds affirmative vote by two-thirds of the
presbyteries is necessary for any proposed changes to take
effect.

>The bios:

The Rev. Heidi Husted Armstrong: has been parish associate
for preaching and worship at Trinity Presbyterian Church in
Tacoma, WA, since 2007. She previously served several
pastorates in Washington and California, as the Christian
impact director at World Vision U.S., and is currently
preacher and worship leader for the Immigration and Customs
Enforcement Northwest Detention Center.

The Rev. Warner M. Bailey: is director of Presbyterian
studies and adjunct professor of polity at Brite Divinity
School at Texas Christian University. He is also the parish
associate at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth,
TX. Bailey has served as moderator of the Committee on the
Brief Statement of Faith at the 201st General Assembly
(1989) and moderator of the Committee on Bills and
Overtures of the 213th General Assembly (2001).

Elder Dawn DeVries: is professor of systematic theology at
Union Theological Seminary-Presbyterian School of Christian
Education in Richmond, VA. She is a prolific writer, editor
and translator. In the mid-1990s, she served on the Special
Committee on Catechisms that produced new
non-constitutional catechisms for the PC(USA)

Elder Sylvia Dooling: is an ordained elder and deacon at
Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Loveland, CO. She led
Bible study for 24 years at her congregation and has also
been active in Boulder Presbytery, having served as vice
moderator and currently on the Committee on Preparation for
Ministry and presbytery's Council.

The Rev. James Edwards: is professor of theology at
Whitworth University in Spokane, WA, teaching biblical
languages - Hebrew and Greek - and biblical studies,
especially New Testament. A prolific author and traveler,
particularly to German-speaking countries and the Middle
East, Edwards leads a weekly adult Sunday School class at
his home church.

The Rev. Christopher Elwood: is professor of historical
theology at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary,
specializing in the history and theology of the
16th-century Reformation. He has written several works on
the origins of Reformed theological traditions, including
the widely-read Calvin for Armchair Theologians.

The Rev. Gary Hansen: is assistant professor of church
history at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
in Iowa. He is on the board of the Calvin Studies Society
and is a regular presenter at the annual Sixteenth Century
Studies Conference. Hansen previously served as stated
supply pastor of Hillsborough Presbyterian Church in Belle
Mead, NJ.

Elder Susan Haskell: is an elder and teacher and helps lead
local and international mission work for her congregation
in Birmingham, AL. She is on the board of Columbia
Theological Seminary and has served as  moderator of the
Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, on its. Committee on
Preparation for Ministry and on the Committee on Local
Arrangements for the 2006 General Assembly.

Elder Patrick Hunt: is a teacher of archaeology at Stanford
University. He has written 10 books and 50 articles ranging
on topics from ancient history to biblical literature. Hunt
regularly appears on The History Channel, the National
Geographic Channel's "Explorer" and PBS. He has recently
won an award for his contributions to the History Channel's
"Engineering an Empire Series: Persia and Carthage."

Elder David Todd Mulford: is a risk strategist for
Louisiana Companies and Assurex Global, where he helps
clients design, implement and maintain risk strategies for
their businesses. He has completed  Commissioned Lay Pastor
training for through the Presbytery of South Louisiana and
has preached at several churches there. Mulford was an
elder commissioner to the 218th General Assembly (2008).

The Rev. Shelly Barrick Parsons: is the Presbyterian campus
pastor at West Virginia University and the director of the
Campus Ministry Center there. She is a graduate of Union
Theological Seminary-Presbyterian School of Christian
Education in Richmond, VA. Her areas of greatest interest
are Reformed hermeneutics and Christian education.

The Rev. Neal Presa, chair: is pastor of Middlesex
Presbyterian Church in Middlesex, NJ, and is completing a
Ph.D. dissertation in liturgical studies at Drew University
in Madison, NJ. He is convener/chairman of the Caribbean
and North American Area Council of the World Alliance of
Reformed Churches. Presa has also served as vice-chair of
the General Assembly Council and as a member of the
Committee on the Office of the General Assembly.

The Rev. Lorna Shoemaker: is director of the library and
professor of the history of global Christianity at
Christian Theological Seminary (Disciples of Christ) in
Indianapolis. Currently working on her Ph.D. from the
Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA, Shoemaker has
served in parish ministry and as a staff associate for
Women's Ministries for the PC(USA).

The Rev. David Stubbs: has taught at Western Theological
Seminary in Holland, MI, for eight years. He has been
involved with the PC(USA) at all levels, including several
study groups of the Office of Theology and Worship. He has
published and presented papers in several areas in theology
and ethics and is working on a project about the Reformed
theology of the Eucharist.

The Rev. Floretta Watkins: is a fourth-generation
Presbyterian who has served the church as an ordained
minister since 1993, working in campus ministry and two
pastorates. She now works with a multicultural congregation
in Charlotte, NC. Watkins is also the managing partner of
Leadership Acuity, which is affiliated with the Leadership
Management Institute in Waco, TX.

Information about all of the General Assembly special
committees named to date is available online
[www.pcusa.org/oga/newsstories/ga218-spec-cmtes.htm].

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